VRH

Veterinary Rehabilitation & Hydrotherapy

Veterinarian Led Physiotherapy Rehabilitation

In my approach to physiotherapy rehabilitation, I treat every pet as an individual, recognizing that each one has unique needs, personalities, and challenges. My goal is to create tailored, customised treatment plans for each patient, with a focus on alleviating pain, accelerating recovery, and enhancing overall quality of life.

I believe that all pets, regardless of age or condition, can benefit from rehabilitation. This is particularly important after injuries, for maintenance in breeds predisposed to specific congenital or hereditary conditions (such as patella luxation or spinal diseases), or for improving the quality of life in pets suffering from conditions like cancer, arthritis, or obesity.

Customised Therapies for Rehabilitation

Customised Therapies for Rehabilitation

Veterinary Rehabilitation & Hydrotherapy (VRH) provides comprehensive rehabilitation services tailored to a wide range of cases, including post-surgical patients, geriatric animals, those with genetic conditions, and obesity. We also provide specialised treatment for companion animals with:

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is a therapeutic approach that harnesses the physical properties of water such as buoyancy, viscosity, and hydrostatic pressure—to promote healing and enhance mobility in animals. It dates back to ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Chinese practices and is now widely used in both human and veterinary rehabilitation.

Typical sessions may include underwater treadmill work and guided aquatic exercises under a specialist’s supervision, optimizing recovery and wellness for both dogs and cats.  

In practice, the buoyant environment of a warm water pool or underwater treadmill:

Why It Matters 

Combining hydrotherapy with a modern sling system offers a more holistic, patient‑centric approach: 

Early mobilization

Ideal for post-operative or older pets it reduces joint stress and encourages movement sooner.

Better comfort & security

Every component from padding to secure straps—is designed to minimize anxiety and maximize steady, safe buoyancy.

Optimized rehabilitation

Whether recovering from surgery, managing arthritis, or regaining strength after neuromuscular issues, pets benefit from consistent, gentle movement in water.

Veterinary Rehabilitation & Hydrotherapy

The Veterinary Rehabilitation and Hydrotherapy (VRH) team at Beecroft is committed to improving the quality of life for your beloved animal companions through enhanced mobility. We believe that movement and play are essential components of a fulfilling life.

Our rehabilitation services, including canine and feline rehabilitation, are tailored to a wide range of cases, from post-operative recovery and pain management to building strength and slowing the progression of degenerative conditions. We offer various therapies, including animal hydrotherapy, to help your pet achieve optimal mobility and well-being.

Common Conditions Treated with Veterinary Rehabilitation

Veterinary rehabilitation plays a vital role in managing various conditions and improving your pet’s quality of life. Here is how our therapies can help:

Safe & Effective Pet Rehabilitation

Safe & Effective Pet Rehabilitation

Hydrotherapy provides a scientifically backed, low-impact environment for strengthening joints, reducing pain, and enhancing overall mobility in companion animals. The addition of our sling system significantly elevates the experience improving safety, comfort, and control for both pets and therapists throughout every stage of rehabilitation.

Video Gallery

Our video gallery showcases the journey of pets undergoing rehabilitation and specialist care at Beecroft. From hydrotherapy sessions to advanced recovery treatments, these clips highlight how our dedicated team combines science, compassion, and expertise to help pets regain strength, confidence, and mobility.

Watch our patients in action and see how veterinary specialist care makes a difference.

Comprehensive Rehabilitation Therapies for Animals

TherapyDescriptionBenefits
AcupunctureStimulates specific points with needles to promote healing, release natural painkillers, reduce inflammation, and enhance blood flow.Manages pain, reduces inflammation, improves joint mobility, and supports overall healing. Particularly beneficial for arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES)Uses electrical stimulation to strengthen muscles. Ideal for pets with weakness, atrophy, or recovering from surgery/injury.Improves muscle strength and function, reduces pain, and aids in nerve regeneration. Beneficial for neurological and orthopaedic conditions.
Ultrasound TherapyEmploys high-frequency sound waves to increase blood flow, reduce pain and inflammation, and promote soft tissue healing.Accelerates healing, reduces pain and swelling, and improves flexibility. Effective for musculoskeletal injuries, arthritis, and post-surgical recovery.
Therapy 
Class IV Laser Therapy
A non-invasive treatment that uses high-intensity laser light to reduce pain, inflammation, and promote healing in various conditions.Class IV Laser Therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment that utilizes focused light energy to reduce pain, decrease inflammation, and accelerate healing in pets. It is commonly employed for conditions such as arthritis, various joint and muscle injuries, post-surgical recovery, and wound healing. This therapy works by improving circulation, stimulating cellular repair, and encouraging the release of the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals.
Underwater Treadmill (UWTM)Provides low-impact exercise in water, reducing stress on joints while building strength and improving cardiovascular health.Improves strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance. Ideal for post-surgical recovery, arthritis, obesity, and neurological conditions. A key component of animal hydrotherapy.
Therapeutic MassageUses manual massage techniques to relax muscles, improve circulation, and reduce pain.Relieves muscle tension, improves flexibility, reduces pain, and promotes relaxation. Beneficial for pets with injuries, post-surgical recovery, or age-related stiffness.

Types of rehabilitation therapies at VRH

Acupuncture
Acupuncture stimulates meridian points with needles, promoting biochemical changes that aid healing. It releases natural painkillers, reduces inflammation, and enhances blood flow and tissue repair. It can also improve joint mobility in animals with arthritis.
NMES is an electrical stimulation therapy that strengthens the muscles. It is non-invasive, benefitting animals with muscle weakness, atrophy, or those recovering from injury or surgery. NMES can supplement various therapies to treat neurological disorders and orthopaedic conditions.
Therapeutic ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to increase blood flow, enhance soft tissue healing, reduce pain and inflammation in joints and muscle tendons. It is particularly effective for increasing collagen extensibility, which is important for flexibility and mobility.
Laser therapy treats musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc disease, trauma, and lameness. It stimulates biochemical changes in the body that promote cellular respiration, accelerate tissue repair and wound healing, and reduce inflammation, which in turn relieves pain. Laser therapy is also effective in treating dermatological conditions such as wounds and dermatitis. Additionally, laser therapy is suitable for animals with kidney disease.

UWTM is a low-impact therapeutic exercise that leverages the unique physical properties of water to promote muscle building and strengthening. Hydrotherapy improves overall stamina, flexibility, and proprioception, making it beneficial for animals in post-surgical recovery, or who may have musculoskeletal disorders, chronic orthopedic conditions, muscle atrophy, or limb weakness.

Various manual massage techniques are used to improve muscle movement and tissue repair by increasing blood circulation, relieving muscle spasm and tension, and relaxing the muscles. It is helpful for companion animals who experience pain, discomfort, or limited mobility due to injury, illness, or age-related conditions.
This manual therapy mobilises joints, identifies blocks, and increases blood flow. Chiropractic adjustments realign the body, remove compensation problems, release pain, and improve health, thereby facilitating a greater range of motion in an affected region.
Land-based exercises rebuild and strengthen muscles, increase flexibility and endurance, improve cardiovascular health, and reduce joint pain and stiffness. These exercises enhance joint proprioception and position awareness, which are also essential for core stability and coordination. In addition, they can provide mental stimulation to our companion animals.
Heat therapy is commonly combined with physical therapy or massage to improve blood circulation and relax the muscles, thereby increasing range of motion of the joints. This technique involves the application of heat to a targeted area of the body, using hot towels, heating pads, or other specialised devices.
Cryotherapy is a therapeutic technique utilising cold temperatures via ice packs and ice baths to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. It is suitable for animals with arthritis, muscle strains, sprains, musculoskeletal injuries, post-surgery swelling or edema, and inflammation.

Why Choose Us for Veterinary Rehabilitation & Hydrotherapy?

Expertise from an Experienced Team

Our team of experienced veterinary therapists are highly trained in the latest procedures and technologies. We have a deep understanding of animal anatomy and physiology, and we are committed to providing the highest quality care for your pet.

Equipped with state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment, including underwater treadmills, laser therapy, and electrical stimulation units, this allows us to provide the most effective and comprehensive rehabilitation programmes for your pet.

Whether your pet needs post-operative care, pain management, or physical therapy, we have the expertise and resources to help them recover and thrive.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rehabilitation & Hydrotherapy

How do I know if my pet needs rehabilitation services?

Signs your pet might benefit from veterinary rehabilitation include pain, stiffness, limping, weakness, difficulty walking, loss of balance, recent surgery or injury, and chronic conditions like arthritis.

We will start by conducting a thorough assessment of your pet’s condition, including a physical examination, medical history review, and diagnostic tests. This information will help us develop a personalised rehabilitation plan that is tailored to your pet’s specific needs and goals.

The rate of improvement will vary depending on the severity of your pet’s condition and the type of rehabilitation programme they are undergoing. However, you can typically expect to see some improvement within a few weeks.

Animal hydrotherapy, particularly therapies conducted on an underwater treadmill, helps reduce pain and inflammation, improve strength and flexibility, increase range of motion, and enhance cardiovascular health in dogs and cats.
The best way to collaborate with a veterinary rehabilitation therapist is to communicate openly and honestly about your pet’s needs and goals. Be sure to ask questions and share any concerns you have. We will work closely with you to ensure that your pet receives the best possible care and support throughout their rehabilitation journey.

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